A devastating boating accident on Lake Tahoe has claimed the lives of eight people, marking the deadliest incident of its kind in California since 2019, according to officials, per E! Online.
Among the victims was 37-year-old Josh Pickles, a senior executive at DoorDash, along with his parents, 73-year-old Terry Pickles and 71-year-old Paula Bozinovic. Josh’s uncle, 72-year-old Peter Bayes, also perished in the crash, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Coroner's Division confirmed to ABC 7 San Francisco.
The other victims were identified as Timothy O’Leary, 71; James Guck, 69; Theresa Giullari, 66; and Stephen Lindsay, 63. Only two individuals survived the incident, though their conditions have not been publicly disclosed.
The group had been on a boating outing on June 21 in honor of Paula Bozinovic’s 71st birthday. They were aboard a 27-foot “Chris-Craft” luxury powerboat owned by Josh, enjoying a day on the lake when an unexpected storm rolled in.
Authorities received multiple 911 calls around 5PM reporting that the vessel had capsized during severe weather conditions, per The Washington Post. The tragedy unfolded quickly, turning what was intended to be a joyful family celebration into a heartbreaking disaster.
“This is a terrible, heartbreaking tragedy,” a family spokesperson told ABC 7. “The Pickles family had homes in both the Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. They loved the lake. That makes this loss even more painful.”
Josh’s wife, Jordan Pickles, and their seven-month-old child were not on the boat at the time of the incident, having chosen to stay on shore. In a statement, Jordan expressed the immense grief felt by her family and the wider community.
“We are devastated by this tragedy,” she said. “No words can express the pain and anguish we feel knowing their lives were lost during what was meant to be a joyful time on the lake. Our hearts go out to all the victims and the two survivors of this deadly and unexpected storm.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Josh served as the Global Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement on DoorDash’s finance team, where he had worked for nearly seven years.
In a statement, DoorDash Chief Financial Officer Ravi Inukonda paid tribute to Josh’s professional excellence and personal warmth.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that took the life of our beloved colleague, Josh Pickles,” said Inukonda, via PEOPLE. “Josh loved his team and was an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His presence lifted everyone around him.”
Inukonda continued: “The loss of Josh is immeasurable. We miss him deeply and will carry his memory with us always. Our thoughts and love are with his wife, his daughter, his family, and all who were close to him. We are working to support them through this incredibly difficult time.”